Crossbow structure

ABSTRACT

A crossbow structure for projecting an elongate feathered arrow having a butt portion and an elongate barrel with a bow secured to a forward or muzzle end of the elongate barrel. The barrel has a bore having longitudinally spaced resiliently supported arrow positioning members therein and longitudinal slots at each side of the bore for travel of a bow string therealong. The crossbow structure has a trigger member and linkage operatively connected to a sear for selectively holding and releasing the bow string. A cam safety is positioned to be selectively moved into and out of engagement with the trigger member and an elongate safety pin is positioned to be selectively moved into and out of engagement with the sear for holding or releasing the bow string. The stock has an aperture therein for access to a gripping portion adjacent the trigger member. An upwardly biased arrow positioning member is positioned at both the breech and the muzzle ends of the barrel.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Leland L. Jones 1017 S. Willis,Independence, Mo. 64052 [2]] Appl. No. 829,226 {22] Filed June 2, 1969[45] Patented June 1,1971

[54] CROSSBOW STRUCTURE l 1 Claims, 13 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 124/25,

124/40, 124/41, 125/35- [51] lnt.Cl F41b 5/00 [50] Field of Search124/25, 24, 22,21, 35,41,40

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,693,414 11/1928Tolliver... 124/21 3,242,917 3/1966 Benedict. 124/25 3,483,857 12/1969Jones 124/25 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham AssistantExaminer-William R. Browne AttorneyFishbum, Gold and Litman ABSTRACT: Acrossbow structure for projecting an elongate feathered arrow having abutt portion and an elongate barrel with a bow secured to a forward ormuzzle end of the elongate barrel. The barrel has a bore havinglongitudinally spaced resiliently supported arrow positioning memberstherein and longitudinal slots at each side of the bore for travel of abow string therealong. The crossbow structure has a trigger member andlinkage operatively connected to a sear for selectively holding andreleasing the bow string. A cam safety is positioned to be selectivelymoved into and out of engagement with the trigger member and an elongatesafety pin is positioned to be selectively moved into and out ofengagement with the sear for holding or releasing the bow string. Thestock has an aperture therein for access to a gripping portion adjacentthe trigger member. An upwardly biased arrow positioning member ispositioned at both the breech and the muzzle ends of the barrel.

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The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide acrossbow structure having an elongate stock with a butt portion and anelongate barrel portion and an aperture in the stock adjacent a triggermember thereby forming a gripping portion; to provide such a crossbowstructure which will accommodate different diameter and weight arrows;to provide such a crossbow structure having a removable bow portionwhereby the crossbow structure is adapted to interchange bows ofdifferent strength for accurately firing arrows of different diametersand weights; to provide such a crossbow structure having novelpositioning members for supporting and positioning arrow shafts ofdifferent diameters and weights; to provide such a crossbow structurehaving a novel trigger member and firing linkage and novel safetymembers associated with the trigger member and firing linkage forselectively holding same in a nonfiring position and releasing same forfiring a feathered arrow; to provide such a crossbow structure which iseconomical to manufacture, has simple parts which are easily removableand stored, and is particularly well adapted to the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and examplecertain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crossbow structure embodying featuresof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the crossbow structure withportions broken away to show operating components and an arrow beingloaded therein.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 except having thearrow in position for firing.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing mounting meansfor the bow.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the crossbow structure.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing atrigger member and firing linkage.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing aforward arrow positioning member.

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view through the crossbow structuretaken on line 8-8, FIG. 3, showing bow string release mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view through the crossbow structuretaken on line 9-9, FIG. 3, showing a rear arrow positioning member.

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view through a barrel portion of thecrossbow structure taken on line l-ll0,FlG. 3.

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view through a muzzle end of thebarrel portion taken on line 11-] 1, FIG. 3, showing the forward arrowpositioning member.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 1243,FIG. 6, showing safety means for a sear.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line13-13, FIG. 6, showing safety means for the trigger member and firinglinkage.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 generally designates a crossbow structure forprojecting a feathered arrow 2 toward a suitable target (not shown). Thecrossbow structure 1 has an elongate stock 3 having a butt portion 4 andan elongate barrel portion having a longitudinal bore 6 extending from abreach portion 7 to a muzzle end 8 of the barrel portion 5. A how 9 isremovably secured to the barrel portion 5 adjacent the muzzle end 8thereof and the bow 9 has a bow string connected to opposite ends of thebow 9 and extending through longitudinal slots I1 and 12 formed atopposite sides of the barrel portion 5 and communicating with the bore6. The bow string 10 is adapted to be engaged with the feathered arrow 2or a like projectile for propelling same to the target (not shown).

In the illustrated structure, the stock 3 is generally in the form of amodified rifle with the butt portion 4 being adapted to be placedagainst and engaged with a person s shoulder and the barrel portion 5supported whereby the person can sight along front and rear sights 13and 14 respectively mounted on the barrel portion 5 in aiming thecrossbow structure 1 for flight of the arrow 2 toward the desired targetwhen the bow string 10 is released, as hereinafter described.

The bore 6 extends longitudinally from the breech portion 7 to themuzzle end 8 of the barrel portion 5 and is adapted to receive supportand guide the feathered arrow 2. The bore 6 preferably has an arcuate orconcave trough-shaped bottom portion 15 for substantially the fulllength thereof with longitudinally spaced arrow positioning members 16and 17 in the breech portion 7 and the muzzle end 8, respectively. Thebottom portion 15 is below the arrow positioning members 16 and 17thereby permitting the arrow to be placed in the bore 6, as shown inFIG. 2.

Each of the arrow positioning members 16 and 17 has a longitudinalchannel or trough 18 extending the length thereof and presenting aconcave upper face for receiving a shaft portion 19 of the featheredarrow 2 positioned in the bore 6 of the crossbow structure. Thetrough-shaped, arcuate bottom portion 15 of the bore 6 terminates at thesides thereof in longitudinally extending lands 20 that are slightlybelow the channel or trough portion 18 of the arrow positioning members16 and 17 whereby the lands 20 are engaged by outer extremities 21 oflower guide vanes or feathers 22 that extend laterally outwardly from arear portion of the arrow 2. The bore'6 is particularly adapted forarrows having two lower guides or feathers 22 and a third upper orupright guide or feather 23 with the guides or feathers 22 and 23 beingcircumferentially spaced around the periphery of a rear portion of thearrow.

The bore 6 has a longitudinal slot 24 in an upper portion thereof withthe slot 24 extending between the breech portion 7 and the muzzle end 8and is of a suitable size for freely passing the upper feather or guide23 as the arrow is projected from the bore 6. On lower opposite sides ofthe longitudinal slot 24 there are arcuately curved surfaces 25 and 26which extend the length of the slot 24 for cooperating with the channelor trough 18 in the arrow positioning member 17 in the forward or muzzleend 8 to engage forward portions of the arrow shaft portion 19 of thearrow 2 positioned in the bore 6 thereby providing a three landengagement or bore portion for the arrow 2 which forms the guidingengagement for the arrow as it is projected from the bore 6.

The longitudinal slots 11 and 12 are each defined by upper and lowersurfaces 27 and 28, respectively, with the upper surfaces 27 beinggenerally horizontal and intersecting the curved surfaces 25 and 26. Thelower surface 28 of the slots 11 and I2 is preferably arranged in alongitudinal plane that forms a uniform supporting engagement to the bowstring 10 when the bow string is engaged in a rear recess 30 of an arrownock 31.

A portion of the longitudinal slot 24 extending from the rear of theforward arrow positioning member 17 to a loading opening 32 is enlarged,as indicated at 33 in FIG. 6, to a width slightly greater than thediameter of the arrow shaft 19 to serve as a guide therefor duringloading. The length of the enlarged portion 33 of the longitudinal slot24 between a forward end of the loading opening 32 and adjacent a rearend of the arrow positioning member 17 provides for receiving the arrowshaft into the bore 6 from above and through the loading opening 32, asillustrated in FIG. 2.

The muzzle end 8 of the barrel portion 5 is reinforced with stiffeners34 to strengthen said muzzle end 8 against stresses therein caused byfle'xure of the bow 9. The bow 9 is preferably removably mounted andsecured to the muzzle end 8 of the barrel portion 5. In the illustratedstructure, the bow 9 has a notch 35 in a top side thereof positioned atthe center. The notch 35 is shaped-to receive a flange 36 extendingforwardly from an upper surface of the muzzle end 8 of the barrelportion 5 whereby the bow 9 may be secured thereto as by a plurality ofscrews or bolts 37 extending through the flange 36 and notched portionof the bow 9.

The notch 35 in the bow 9 has a generally horizontal surface 38 having arecess 39 therein aligned with the bore 6 for supporting a forward orhead end of the arrow shaft 19 permitting the lower guide vanes orfeathers 22 to pass through the center portion of the bow 9. The flange36 has the longitudinal slot 24 extending along a lower surface thereoffor passage of the third or upper feather or guide vane 23. The arcuateor curved surfaces 25 and 26 extend along the slot 24 of the flange 36to engage upper portions of the arrow shaft 19 when the arrow isprojected from the crossbow structure 1, thereby continuing the upperland engagement with the arrow shaft 19 for guiding same as it isprojected from the crossbow structure 1.

The bow string 10 extends through the longitudinal slots 11 and 12 andis connected to opposite ends 43 and 44 of the bow 9 as in conventionalpractice. The length of the bow string 10 and initial tensioning on thebow 9 may be adjusted whereby a desired pull on the bow is necessary todraw the bow string 10 rearwardly in the slots 11 and 12 to a cockedposition, as later described. ln order to fire a feathered arrow 2 fromthe crossbow structure 1, the bow string 10 must be drawn back andengaged with and retained by a sear 45 before the arrow 2 is insertedinto the bow. A trigger mechanism 46 operatively engages the sear 45 foractuating same in releasing the bow string 10 from the sear 45.

In the illustrated structure, the trigger mechanism 46 is mounted in alower portion of the stock 3 adjacent the breech end of the barrelportion which has a longitudinally slotted recess 47 to receive atrigger member 48. The trigger member 48 is a planar member having aforward edge 49 and a rear edge 50. The forward edge 49 of the triggermember 48 has a notch 51 for receiving a cam safety 52, as laterdescribed, and the rear edge 50 of the trigger member 48 has an enlargedlug portion 53. The trigger member 48 is pivotally mounted in theslotted recess 47, as by a pin 54 which is received in the stock 3. Asin conventional practice, the trigger member 48 is enclosed within asuitable trigger guard 46' and only a lower end portion of the triggermember 48 extends below the lower portion of the stock 3 and into thespace protected by the trigger guard 46'.

A trigger linkage guideway 55 communicates with the slotted recess 47and extends longitudinally rearwardly and communicates with a searguideway 56, as later described. A forward end 57 of an elongate,pivotally mounted lever 58 engages the lug portion 53 of the triggermember 48 and a rear end 59 of the lever 58 extends into the searguideway 56 for effecting retractive movement of the sear 45 forreleasing the bow string 10.

The sear guideway 56 extends in a line transversely of the breechportion 7 of the longitudinal slots 11 and 12 and is adjacent a rear endof the bore 6 and the sear guideway 56 has upper and lower bore portions61 and 62 above and below, respectively, the slots 11 and 12. The scar45 is illustrated as an elongate planar rod or shaft slidably mounted inthe sear guideway 56 and extendible across the breech portion of theslots 11 and 12 and into the upper bore portion 61 to engage and retainthe bow string when the bow 9 is in bow-cocking position. The planarsear rod is positioned rearwardly of the trigger member 48 and forwardlyof the rear of the slots 11 and 12 whereby the bow string 10 may bemoved behind the sear 45 when in cocked position. The elongate sear rodhas a beveled upper end 63 urged into the upper bore portion 61 by asuitable resilient member 64.

In the illustrated structure, the sear flange 60 is positioned adjacenta lower end of the sear rod and the resilient member 64 is an elongatespiral spring sleeved on a lower end of the sear 45 and having one endengaging a lower surface of the sear flange 60 and the other endengaging a lower end of the sear guideway 56 which is illustrated as aplug 56'.

The beveled upper end 63 of the sear 45 is slanted upwardly from aforward edge thereof to facilitate camming the sear 45 downwardly belowthe slots 11 and 12 so the bow string 10 will move thereover and theupper end 63 is also rounded at the rear thereof to facilitate the bowstring 10 being released from the sear 45 when same is moved downwardlybelow the longitudinal slots 11 and 12 by a rearward pull on the lowerportion of the trigger member 48. One end of a spring 48 is connected toan upper portion 50' of the trigger member 48 for positioning the notch51 to receive the cam safety 52. The other end of the spring 48 isreceived in an upper surface of the recess 47 whereby rearward pull onthe lower portion of the trigger member 48 must overcome resistance ofthe spring 48 thereby providing for a smooth trigger pull as compared toa trigger jerk which destroys aiming accuracy.

The cam safety 52 is engageable with the trigger member 48 to preventaccidental firing. The cam safety 52 is illustrated as a planar membermovable into and out of the notch 51 and has an end portion extendingoutwardly through a recess 65 in one side of the stock 3. The cam safety52 is mounted on a pin 66 which is rotatably mounted in the lower breechportion of the stock. The pin 66 is frictionally retained in a suitablesleeve 66 mounted in the stock 3 for holding the safety 52 in a safe orfiring position. A keeper in the form ofa washer or enlarged portion ispositioned to maintain the safety 52 on the pin 66.

An elongate safety pin 67 is slidably mounted in the stock 3 adjacentthe sear 45 and is adapted to be engageable with a lower surface of thesear flange 60 for holding the sear 45 in a nonfiring or safe position.The safety pin 67 has a notch or recess 68 in the side adjacent the sear45 with the notch or recess 68 being sized to permit the sear flange 60to move therethrough thereby permitting firing of the feathered arrow 2when the safety pin 67 has been moved out of engagement with the searflange 60. The pin 67 is a planar member having a pair of spacedrecesses positioned to receive a resilient keeper member 67 within thestock 3 adjacent the sear guideway 56. When the keeper 67' is engaged inone of the recesses, the notch 68 is positioned to permit the searflange 60 to move therethrough and when the keeper 67 is engaged in theother recess in the safety pin 67, the pin 67 is positioned below andengaging the sear flange 60 thereby preventing accidental firing.

When the cam safety 52 is engaged in the notch 51 of the trigger member48 and the safety pin 67 is positioned to engage a lower surface of thesear flange 60, rearward movement of the trigger member 48 is preventedand the beveled upper end 63 of the sear 45 is maintained in thenonfiring position extending above the slots 11 and 12 so that the bowstring 10 cannot move thereover until the safeties 52 and 67 areadjusted and a lower portion of the trigger member 48 is movedrearwardly.

The barrel portion 5 is illustrated as formed of a plurality of piecesor sections to facilitate manufacture and particularly the shaping ofthe interior of the bore 6 and the slotted recess 47, trigger linkageguideway 55, and sear guideway 56.

In the illustrated structure, an aperture 69 extends through the stock 3and is positioned between the slotted recess 47 and the breech portion 7of the barrel and forwardly of the sear guideway 56 thereby forming agripping portion 70 which surrounds the trigger linkage guideway 57. Theaperture 69 is sized to provide entry for the hand of a person using thecrossbow structure 1.

In using a crossbow structure constructed as described herein, a bow 9having the desired strength for firing the selected weight and diameterarrow is mounted at the muzzle end 8 by engaging the flange 36 in thenotch 35 and installing the bolts or screws 37. The bow string 10 isthen inserted through the longitudinal slots 11 and 12 whereby itextends transversely of the bore 6 and the bow string 10 is secured tothe opposite ends 43 and 44 of the bow with a suitable string lengththerebetween to provide the desired initial tension therein and pull forthe bow. Prior to moving the bow string 10 rearwardly the cam safety 52is disengaged from the notch 51 of the trigger member 48 and the safetypin 67 is positioned to allow the sear flange 60 to move through thenotch or recess 68 in the safety pin 67. The butt portion 4 may then beplaced against any suitable obstruction for application of substantialforce to the bow string 10 for moving same rearwardly through the slots11 and 12 to move over the beveled upper end 63 of the sear 45. The bowstring is then pulled rearwardly toward the breech portion 7 of the bore6 and slots 11 and 12 and the sear 45 partially moved downwardly againstthe force of the resilient member 64 so that the string 10 will cam upand over the beveled upper end 63 of the sear 45 and be positioned andretained therebehind. The bow string 10 must be retained by the sear 45during the loading of the selected arrow 2 and accidental release of thebow string prior to complete loading of the arrow would be ineffectivein propelling the arrow. The resilient member or sear spring 64 thenurges the sear 45 longitudinally upwardly into the upper bore portion 61so that the bow string 10 is retained in a cocked position. The camsafety 52 and the safety pin 67 are then each moved into their nonfiringor safe positions engaging the trigger member 48 and the sear flange 60,respectively.

A head or forward end of the selected weight and diameter featheredarrow 2 is then inserted through the loading opening 32 of the breechand moved forwardly along the bore 6 as illustrated in FIG. 2 wherebythe head passes through the forward end of the bow and is engaged by theforward arrow positioning member l7.

The arrow shaft 19 engages the beveled enlarged portion 33 of the slot24 adjacent the forward end of the loading opening 32. The enlargedportion 33 and the rear end of the forward arrow positioning member 17are grooved to cooperate in guiding the arrow into the bore 6 and intothe channel or trough 18 in the forward arrow positioning member 17. Theloading opening 32 is of substantially less length than the selectedarrow 2 to be projected from the crossbow structure l and the lengththereof permits the loading movement of the arrow and when the arrow ismoved into the bore 6 the guide feathers will freely move through theopening to permit the rear portion of the shaft to drop into the troughor channel 18 in the rear arrow positioning member 16.

The arrow positioning members 16 and 17 are urged upwardly or toward thetop of the bore 6 by suitable resilient members 72 and 73, respectively.The movement of the arrow positioning members 16 and 17 is confined to avertical path by pins 74 and 75, respectively, extending into verticallyextending slots 76 and 77 at the breech portion 7 and the muzzle end 8,respectively.'The resilient members 72 associated with the rear arrowpositioning members 16 raise same vertically to a position having thenock 31 just forwardly of the sear 45 and the rear recess 30 in aposition extending transversely of the bore 6 and positioned in a planedefined by the bow string 10 so that when the bow string is released itwill immediately move into the nick or recess 30. In this position, theouter portions or extremities 21 of the guide feathers or vanes 22lightly rest on the lands or surfaces to give stability to the arrow 2.The resilient members 72 associated with the rear arrow positioningmember 16 and the resilient members 73 associated with the forward arrowpositioning member 17 urge the arrow upwardly into engagement with thecurved or arcuate surfaces and 26 of the longitudinal slot 24 therebyproviding guidance for the arrow when fired from the crossbow structurel. The arrow supported in the channel or trough 18 of the arrowpositioning members 16 and 17" and engaging the curved surfaces 25 and26 of the bore 6 and the flange 36 is then ready for firing upon releaseof the safeties 52 and 67 and placing the butt end 4 against theshoulder of a person firing the crossbow structure so that the personcan sight through the front and rear sights l3 and 14 to the target (notshown). The gripping portion 70 is grasped in such a manner that onefinger engages a lower end of the trigger member 48 and when thestructure 1 is properly aimed, said trigger lower portion is pulledrearwardly, driving the sear 45 downwardly, thereby releasing the bowstring 10 which moves into engagementwith the rear recess 30 in the nockof the arrow. The bow string then in its forwardly propelling movementsupports the rear of the arrow 2 so that in the movement of the arrowforwardly through the bore 6, the guide feathers provide stability whilethe bow string is the main support that cooperates with the lands at themuzzle end for guiding the arrow as it is propelled from the bore. Asthe guide feathers move outwardly through the muzzle portion of thebore, the lateral and vertical portions are as illustrated in FIG. 11 sothere is no interference in the launching of the selected arrow.

The structure illustrated and described permits the use of longconventional arrows that are more easily found after firing than areshort darts. Also, it permits the interchange of a plurality of bows ofdifferent strengths for use with respective different weights anddiameter arrows.

It is to be understood that, while I have illustrated and described oneform of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form orarrangement of parts herein described and shown.

What l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A crossbow structure for projecting a feathered arrow comprising:

a. a crossbow stock having an elongate barrel, said barrel having alongitudinal bore extending between a muzzle end and a breech portion ofsaid barrel, said barrel having a loading opening therein communicatingwith said bore for receiving a feathered arrow therein;

b. a resiliently mounted arrow positioning means within said barreladjacent the muzzle end of said bore for biasing an arrow upwardly inthe bore and for supporting only the nocked portion of an arrow in aposition to be discharged;

c. a resiliently mounted arrow positioning means within said barreladjacent the breech portion of said bore for biasing an arrowupwardly'in the bore and for supporting only the nocked portion of anarrow in a position to be discharged;

d. longitudinal slots formed at each side of said barrel andcommunicating with said bore, said slots extending between the muzzleend and the breech portion of said barrel;

e. a bow secured to said barrel adjacent the muzzle end thereof; a bowstring connected to opposite ends of said bow and extendingthrough saidslots for traveling therealong;

g. sear means within said barrel for selectively retaining and releasingsaid bow string; and

h. trigger means operativcly engaging said sear means for effectingrelease of said bow string.

2. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim.1 vwherein said searmeans includes:

a. a scar guideway extending in a line transversely of the breechportion of the longitudinal slots and adjacent a rear end of the bore;

b. an elongate rod having a bevelled upper end movable within said searguideway;

c. a flange adjacent a lower end of said sear rod, said flange beingengaged by said trigger means for moving said rod; and

d. resilient means within said stock engaging said flange for urgingsaid sear rod into a nonfiring position.

3. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 2 including:

a. an elongate safety pin engageable with said sear flange for holdingsaid sear rod in the nonfiring position;

b. a notch in said safety pin sized to permit said sear flange to movetherethrough; and

c. keeper means engageable with said safety pin for selectively holdingsame in engagement with said sear flange and for holding said safety pinin position having said notch therein positioned to permit said searflange to move therethrough.

4. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein:

a. said safety pin has a pair of longitudinally spaced recesses thereinto receive said keeper means; and

b. said keeper meansis a resilient member sized to be selectivelyreceivedwithin said recesses in said safety pin.

5. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said triggermeans includes:

a. a trigger guideway within said stock communicating with said searguideway;

. a trigger member pivotally mounted within said trigger guideway, saidtrigger member having a lug portion extending therefrom; and

. an elongate lever within said trigger guideway, said lever beingpivotally mounted intermediate its ends and having one end engaging saidlug portion of said trigger member and the other end engaging said searflange for moving said sear out of engagement with said bow string.

The crossbow structure as set forth in claim including:

. a notch in an edge of said trigger member; and

. a rotatably mounted cam safety positioned to be selectively moved intosaid notch whereby said cam safety engages and positions said triggermember in a nonfiring position.

The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 6 including:

resilient means engaging said trigger member and said trigger guidewayfor positioning said notch in said trigger member to receive said camsafety;

. friction means associated with said cam safety for retaining same inan adjusted position; and

r a recess in one side of said stock for said cam safety, said recessbeing sized to permit said cam safety to move between a safe position insaid notch and a firing position out of said notch. The crossbowstructure as set forth in claim 7 wherein:

said trigger member is a planar member having a forward edge and a rearedge; said notch is in said forward edge of said trigger member; saidlug portion of said trigger member extends rearwardly from said rearedge of said trigger member; and

said sear rod is positioned rearwardly of said trigger member.

. A crossbow structure for projecting a feathered arrow comprising:

0. guide means associated with said arrow positioning members forconfining movement thereof to a path extending transversely of saidbore;

(1. longitudinal slots formed at each side of said barrel andcommunicating with said bore, said slots extending between the muzzleend and the breech portion of said barrel;

e. a bow secured to said barrel adjacent the muzzle end thereof;

f. a bow string connected to opposite ends of said bow and extendingthrough said slots for traveling therealong;

g. a sear guideway extending in a line transversely of the breechportion of the longitudinal slots and adjacent a rear end of the bore;

h. a scar slidably mounted in said sear guideway and extendible acrossthe breech portion of said slots to engage and retain said bow stringwhen said bow is in bowcocking position; and

. trigger and linkage means operatively engaging said sear for linearretracting movement of said sear to release said bow string.

10. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 9 including:

a. an aperture through said stock adjacent said breech portion, saidaperture being sized to permit entry of at least a portion of one handof a person using the crossbow structure; and

b. a gripping portion in said stock adjacent said trigger means, saidgripping portion forming a portion of the surfaces defining saidaperture. ll. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 10 whereinsaid trigger and linkage means include:

a. a trigger linkage guideway within said gripping portion of saidstock, said trigger linkage guideway communicating with said gearguideway;

b. a trigger member pivotally mounted within said trigger guideway, saidtrigger member having a lug portion extending therefrom; and

c. an elongate lever within said trigger linkage guideway, said leverbeing pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and having one endengaging said lug portion of said trigger member and the other endengaging said sear whereby movement of said trigger member is operativeto move said sear out of engagement with said bow string.

1. A crossbow structure for projecting a feathered arrow comprising: a.a crossbow stock having an elongate barrel, said barrel having alongitudinal bore extending beTween a muzzle end and a breech portion ofsaid barrel, said barrel having a loading opening therein communicatingwith said bore for receiving a feathered arrow therein; b. a resilientlymounted arrow positioning means within said barrel adjacent the muzzleend of said bore for biasing an arrow upwardly in the bore and forsupporting only the nocked portion of an arrow in a position to bedischarged; c. a resiliently mounted arrow positioning means within saidbarrel adjacent the breech portion of said bore for biasing an arrowupwardly in the bore and for supporting only the nocked portion of anarrow in a position to be discharged; d. longitudinal slots formed ateach side of said barrel and communicating with said bore, said slotsextending between the muzzle end and the breech portion of said barrel;e. a bow secured to said barrel adjacent the muzzle end thereof; f. abow string connected to opposite ends of said bow and extending throughsaid slots for traveling therealong; g. sear means within said barrelfor selectively retaining and releasing said bow string; and h. triggermeans operatively engaging said sear means for effecting release of saidbow string.
 2. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid sear means includes: a. a sear guideway extending in a linetransversely of the breech portion of the longitudinal slots andadjacent a rear end of the bore; b. an elongate rod having a bevelledupper end movable within said sear guideway; c. a flange adjacent alower end of said sear rod, said flange being engaged by said triggermeans for moving said rod; and d. resilient means within said stockengaging said flange for urging said sear rod into a nonfiring position.3. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 2 including: a. anelongate safety pin engageable with said sear flange for holding saidsear rod in the nonfiring position; b. a notch in said safety pin sizedto permit said sear flange to move therethrough; and c. keeper meansengageable with said safety pin for selectively holding same inengagement with said sear flange and for holding said safety pin inposition having said notch therein positioned to permit said sear flangeto move therethrough.
 4. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 3wherein: a. said safety pin has a pair of longitudinally spaced recessestherein to receive said keeper means; and b. said keeper means is aresilient member sized to be selectively received within said recessesin said safety pin.
 5. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 2wherein said trigger means includes: a. a trigger guideway within saidstock communicating with said sear guideway; b. a trigger memberpivotally mounted within said trigger guideway, said trigger memberhaving a lug portion extending therefrom; and c. an elongate leverwithin said trigger guideway, said lever being pivotally mountedintermediate its ends and having one end engaging said lug portion ofsaid trigger member and the other end engaging said sear flange formoving said sear out of engagement with said bow string.
 6. The crossbowstructure as set forth in claim 5 including: a. a notch in an edge ofsaid trigger member; and b. a rotatably mounted cam safety positioned tobe selectively moved into said notch whereby said cam safety engages andpositions said trigger member in a nonfiring position.
 7. The crossbowstructure as set forth in claim 6 including: a. resilient means engagingsaid trigger member and said trigger guideway for positioning said notchin said trigger member to receive said cam safety; b. friction meansassociated with said cam safety for retaining same in an adjustedposition; and c. a recess in one side of said stock for said cam safety,said recess being sized to permit said cam safety to move between a safeposition in said notch and a firing position out of said notch.
 8. Thecrossbow structuRe as set forth in claim 7 wherein: a. said triggermember is a planar member having a forward edge and a rear edge; b. saidnotch is in said forward edge of said trigger member; c. said lugportion of said trigger member extends rearwardly from said rear edge ofsaid trigger member; and d. said sear rod is positioned rearwardly ofsaid trigger member.
 9. A crossbow structure for projecting a featheredarrow comprising: a. a crossbow stock having an elongate barrel, saidbarrel having a longitudinal bore extending between a muzzle end and abreech portion of said barrel, said barrel having a loading openingtherein communicating with said bore for receiving a feathered arrowtherein; b. arrow positioning members within said barrel, a plurality ofresilient means associated with said arrow positioning members wherebysaid arrow positioning members are biased upwardly to force differentdiameter arrows into engagement with the bore of the barrel; c. guidemeans associated with said arrow positioning members for confiningmovement thereof to a path extending transversely of said bore; d.longitudinal slots formed at each side of said barrel and communicatingwith said bore, said slots extending between the muzzle end and thebreech portion of said barrel; e. a bow secured to said barrel adjacentthe muzzle end thereof; f. a bow string connected to opposite ends ofsaid bow and extending through said slots for traveling therealong; g. asear guideway extending in a line transversely of the breech portion ofthe longitudinal slots and adjacent a rear end of the bore; h. a searslidably mounted in said sear guideway and extendible across the breechportion of said slots to engage and retain said bow string when said bowis in bow-cocking position; and i. trigger and linkage means operativelyengaging said sear for linear retracting movement of said sear torelease said bow string.
 10. The crossbow structure as set forth inclaim 9 including: a. an aperture through said stock adjacent saidbreech portion, said aperture being sized to permit entry of at least aportion of one hand of a person using the crossbow structure; and b. agripping portion in said stock adjacent said trigger means, saidgripping portion forming a portion of the surfaces defining saidaperture.
 11. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 10 whereinsaid trigger and linkage means include: a. a trigger linkage guidewaywithin said gripping portion of said stock, said trigger linkageguideway communicating with said gear guideway; b. a trigger memberpivotally mounted within said trigger guideway, said trigger memberhaving a lug portion extending therefrom; and c. an elongate leverwithin said trigger linkage guideway, said lever being pivotally mountedintermediate its ends and having one end engaging said lug portion ofsaid trigger member and the other end engaging said sear wherebymovement of said trigger member is operative to move said sear out ofengagement with said bow string.